I developed mobile phones for a niche market, which would cater to the Indian market as well as a global one. The project is a culmination of the process which aims to identify the different lifestyles of people and the manner in which they interact with their mobile phones along with their purpose of use. So the concepts have been developed along these lines.
The first concept phone ‘insta’ related to people who are into health and fitness. Yoga and “art of living” are catching up with people. So, integrating a healthy living in their lifestyles was a primary concern. The phone, therefore, was a simple touch-screen phone with basic navigation buttons with under laid solar cells for natural charge. The ring fitted into the phone acted as a health monitor and trainer and catered to all the health requirements of the individual, starting with monitoring health and relaying information to acting as a trainer for physical fitness. Many natural elements too were considered while giving form to the phone to perceive it as an electronic gadget.
The second concept ‘trans’ was based on the exploded phenomenon of “social networking.” With mobile phones turning wi-fi enabled and the internet possibly being accessed anywhere and everywhere, lifestyles have changed tremendously to adopt it. The phone, therefore, had a colour band as the basic navigation tool, which helped sort information and gave easy access according to the context of use.
These two phones were, thus, the outcome of understanding users, their needs and lifestyles throughout the country. The project, culminated in a device to be used and experienced by the user, and yet an innovation in itself.
